A/N: Hello again! ^^ Updates should come sooner now, because I am now on summer break! Yay! Thank you all for the reviews, I truly enjoy all of the feedback. If you think Kurama's been bipolar, you haven't seen anything yet! What will our fox do? Will Hiei and Aaron grow closer? Will Kuwabara get beaten up again? Read on and find out!
A Rattlesnake, when Cornered will become so angry that it will bite itself. That is exactly what the harboring of hate and resentment against others is – a biting of oneself. We think we are harming others in holding these spites and hates, but the deeper harm is to ourselves.
~E. Stanley Jones~
There's No Way Out
I was dying.
I could feel it, ever so slowly. I clutched at my bloody chest, trying to ignore the blood-stained gashes in the beautiful pink kimono that I was wearing. Fire was all around me, the flames licking the walls of the back room of the feudal manor. My hair, despite my condition, was still ornately done in sculpted circles for the Emperor's party, my hair encrusted with my sister's golden ornaments. I could feel my white powder make-up dripping in streaks down my face from the fire's heat.
And there was blood everywhere.
I saw Kain standing in front of me, a grin on his face. He looked the same as he always had: his long black hair fell to his waist in layers, outlining his muscular torso. He was maybe an inch taller than I remembered him, so that put him at being about 6'3, his body clothed in the hakama(...?) that I'd seen in Japanese movies. His violet eyes glinted with sadistic pleasure as he laughed at the fire, seeming pleased with himself.
Then, I saw why.
Kain was laughing not at me, but at his prisoner – he had his hand wrapped almost fully around Hiei's throat. Hiei was gasping through clenched teeth, his eyes, from what I could see of them, were squinted almost shut; both of his hands were gripping Kain's arm, nails digging bloody rivulets into his tanned skin.
Hiei was hurt, and her was hurt badly. I somehow knew that the cuts on my arms came from Hiei, just like I knew that the wounds on his chest were from me, and that broken bones in his legs were from me...this was all my fault.
We were both dying, and it was all my fault.
There was a black tattoo on Hiei's torso – a giant black cross with a heart in the center of it – from his chest to his torso. Somehow, I knew that I had that mark too. I knew that that was why we felt each others exact pain...and why were both going to die.
Kain turned his attention to me, not loosening his grip on Hiei's throat. I couldn't see, I couldn't breathe...!
Suddenly, fire flared behind Kain, taking on the shape of insect wings behind his back. Even though I hated to admit it...he looked beautiful.
"You're mine, Aisuru." He snarled with a sneer. Something sand inside of me at that name, but I beat the feeling down. He grinned.
I watched in horror as he crushed Hiei's throat in one squeeze. Hiei's eyes bulged to immeasurable proportions, like one of those old cartoon characters, and Kain dropped him.
The pain crumpled me to the ground. I couldn't breathe...I felt like a fish out of water. Hiei was staring at me, fingers flexing slowly, trying to reach me. I distantly wondered which of us would go first.
Kain grabbed my hair, pulling me up to face him "It's time you acted like it." He hissed.
I woke up with a jolt, using my hand to muffle the scream in my throat. Oh, sweet Jesus...oh, Lord...I was alive.
I flinched as I moved my arm back down. Still hurting from earlier, but alive.
What had that dream been about...? The weird clothes, the gore, and Kain...
I covered my eyes with a hand. I had known Kain since we were kids. He had been my best friend...and my first crush. When we had to move, I remembered clinging to him, crying that I didn't want to go, that I didn't want to leave him...and two hours later Asher and I were orphans.
"I don't like you."
I jumped, wincing at the action. I looked out at the darkness of my room, shaking Lazee awake beside me. All at once I saw piercing emerald eyes glaring back at me through the black of my room – Kurama.
As my eyes adjusted to the dark, I saw him more clearly. He was still in the same outfit from earlier, leaning against my wall with his arms crossed.
Lazee poked her head from under the covers and began growling at him. Go baby girl.
"Kurama...?" I yawned, stretching. Just play it cool, Aaron, I'm sure fox demons can sense fear like other animals can, "What're you doing he-"
"Let me be more specific – I don't like that mark on your hand."
I looked at my mark, fingering the moon in my palm. "What does that have to do with-"
"You're going to be the death of him." He said, glaring at me.
I shuddered, remembering my dream. "Where did all of this come from? Why would you help me if you hated me?"
"I don't hate you, Aaron, If the circumstances were different, I might even be able to love you." Wow, that was shocking. "You're a sweet girl, an innocent child, but that doesn't change what you are. I didn't think that you'd pose a threat, but..."
Now I was getting angry "To whom? And what do you mean 'what you are'? Who do you think YOU are?"
"You pose a threat to those I care about." He stood up straight and Lazee growled louder, her hackles rising "Either find a way to remove the marks, or I may have to handle this my way."
I gripped the handle of my dagger under my pillow, gritting my teeth "Did Hiei put you up to this?"
"No, and that's the problem." That threw me for a loop. He sighed, all at once looking tired "He doesn't talk of you often, but when he does he doesn't usually have a bit of spite in his voice...and that's unlike him."
I could agree with that – Hiei hated everything.
"And you don't help matters by thinking of him constantly."
"I do not!"
His brow raised into his hairline. I bit my lip; we both knew that that was a lie. "Look," I ran a hand through my hair, feigning indifference "it's late, and I don't want to talk to you right now. Can we do this later?"
I laid back down and rolled to where my back was facing him. My eyes were wide with fright as I waited to see what Kurama would do. I didn't think that he'd attack me, but...
"...Hiei is honorable;" I bit back the urge to scream as his voice tickled my ear "he would never attack someone who's back is turned, even if he hates them...I am not like Hiei. Remember that."
I let out a small whimper. Lazee leaped over me only to tumble onto the floor. I spun around to see my empty room staring back at me.
I shuddered, gathering Lazee to me and sitting on the corner of my bed, knife in hand and pooch in lap. Then, I did the only thing I could do – I hugged Lazee and cried.
I shuffled down the stairs the next morning with puffy eyes and Lazee in my arms. I hadn't been able to go back to sleep after Kurama's little visit, so as soon as my digital clock hit the decent hour of six I got up, feeling very safe with my dagger tucked into my Eeyore jammies, out of sight.
"Look, I told you I can't!" Asher's angry voice surprised me. I peeked around the stair banister, spying him in the small hallway.
Asher's hair was a tangled mess, pooling into his wrinkled, open shirt. The button of his slept-in blue jeans was undone, giving him as much comfort as possible. He was leaned against the wall, talking into his cellphone, bare feet flush against the wood floor. He didn't look happy.
"I don't care - - I said I don't care, Kain! She-" All at once he noticed me. He looked like he'd seen a ghost. Asher sighed, pulling his hand from his pocket to run it across his face. "Look, I've got to go." He snapped the phone shut, relaxing fully against the wall with a sigh of relief.
"...Asher, why didn't you let me talk to Kain?" I demanded. I hadn't so much as gotten a postcard from him since we had moved; Kain hadn't even bothered going to mama and daddy's funeral.
He cocked an eyebrow at the strange blade-shaped bulge at my side "Don't you have more important things to worry about?"
"Don't change the subject!" I snarled as I set Lazee down, my heart pitty-pattying in my chest. I guess I wasn't fully over Kain yet. "Why do you even have his number? Last time I checked, you and Kain hated each other!"
"Things haven't changed much." He snorted, pushing off of the wall "You didn't seem tooo worried about Kain when your boyfriend brought you in last night." He said curtly, shouldering past me.
The urge to scream welled up inside of me "Hiei is NOT my boyfriend!" I cried, running after him into the kitchen. "He's a boy and he's my friend, but he's not my boyfriend-"
I sucked in a breath, slamming on breaks. Hiei was sitting at my kitchen table drinking coffee, as if he owned the place.
He looked up at me and smiled impishly "Aaron." He said, giving me the 'I know something you don't know' look.
"...Asher," I looked over at my brother, who was putting the finishing touches on some hot chocolate. I was normally the only one in the house who liked coffee "what is Hiei doing here, and why is he drinking my coffee?"
I love caffeine, sue me. Asher blew on his drink, taking a careful sip. "He showed up earlier, and we had a little talk. It would have been impolite to not offer him a drink." He motioned to the bubbling coffee pot "I've got yous making right now."
A small squeal of pleasure sounded as I inhaled the string nutty smell of fresh coffee. I was usually a morning person anyway, but on mornings like this a cup of coffee turned me into Mr. Rogers.
I fought the urge to skip to the coffee maker, pointedly ignoring Hiei as I poured the dark liquid into my Gemini mug. "How much earlier can you get than six?"
"Try five."
I blinked, almost dropping the coffee pot. I turned to Hiei, who was sipping form his own cup. "Do you ever sleep?"
"..." He swallowed, shrugging "Rarely."
I shuddered; he was drinking his coffee straight black, and I could taste it running down my throat. I dumped an extra teaspoon of sugar into my coffee, four instead of the usual three, and didn't spare the milk from my sweetener drive.
Hiei didn't react as I drank my concoction, although my teeth hurt because it was so sweet. I guessed he was the kind of person who could drink his coffee any way he could get it. Lucky.
As I turned back around I noticed Asher pulling on his coat from the back of the chair "And where are you going this early? You're usually not stirring on your own until ten!"
"..." Asher pulled on his gunmetal gray coat, not looking at me "I've got to go out of town for a few days. Business. I'll be back next Tuesday."
"But...!" I wanted to cry, I could feel the tears coming "my art expedition's on that day...!"
"Yeah?" He smiled, ruffling my hair "Don't worry, Air, I won't miss it – no matter how tired I am."
"Why do you have to leave?" I sounded like I was three as I followed him into the hall, but I didn't care. Something was wrong.
"Woody asked me to go with him to Tourent, and I said I would. It's for an old Firebird, you'll love it. It's red and everything." Tony, A.K.A. 'Woody' Johnson, was Asher's boss at the autoshop. He had a bad past, but he was a sweet guy. "Don't use the stove while I'm gone, don't answer the door for strangers, and don't forget to brush your teeth, okay?"
"...You're lying to me."
His hand stopped inches from the front door knob. I could feel Hiei standing in the kitchen doorway, watching us. "I'm your sister, Asher, but I'm also your twin. I know you better than I know myself." He slowly lowered his hand onto the knob "So why are you lying to me?"
"..." He sighed, turning halfway to face me "I'm sorry Aaron...but I can't tell you." He stared levelly over my shoulder "Hiei's agreed to stay with you while I'm gone, so you'll be protected. You have nothing to worry about."
Hiei? I blinked, turning to face the boy in question. Hiei's face told me nothing; a perfect mask. Living with Hiei for a whole week…? "…Un-uh, forget it! I'll stay with Michael!"
Asher snorted "Michael couldn't fight his way out of a wet paper bag, and you know it."
Somewhere, wherever he was, I felt Michael flinch. Sorry, man. "But…!"
"Just deal with it 'til I get back, okay?" He kissed my forehead "I love you, Aaron. Later." Then he was out the door.
I was only able to stand there as Asher cranked up his Torino and drove away, struck dumb. "…He's not coming back."
Hiei snorted "Don't get yourself in a tizzy, fool. Your brother said he would be back in-"
"But he won't!" I screamed, tearing at my hair and falling to my knees. "I know Asher, and
something's wrong! He's trying to protect me from something, and I don't know what it is! Why does everyone think that I'm so weak? You, Asher, Kurama…everyone!"
I let out a shuddering sob, tears streaming down my face. I wasn't weak! I wasn't! I felt like I was backed into a corner… There was nothing I could do about any of this…and I hated it.
"...You really are an idiot."
I whipped my head up "What?"
He looked at me levelly, not moving "If you really believe that I would allow myself to be bonded to someone who was weak, then you don't know anything about me. If I'm bonded to a weak person, that means that I'm weak, Aaron." His gaze became sharp "And I am not weak."
I licked my lips, nodding. "So don't worry about what can't do anything about. Asher said that he would be back soon, so don't worry about it. Focus on your training."
"But-"
"Don't prove me wrong." He glided slowly back into the kitchen to finish the rest of his coffee, leaving me to myself.
I smiled, hugging myself. It might have been a bit unorthodox, but I knew that that was Hiei's way of showing that he cared for me.
A/N: Wow...I apologize that I dropped off the face of a cliff for months! ^^ Thanks for the support and comments. I almost have the story completed (hand-written, that's partly what takes me so long to post..._) So if I still have fan, here you go! I hope you enjoyed it!
So, what's up with Asher? How is Aaron and Hiei living together going to work? Read on to see!
